Meet Emily Hosie, RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards Start-Up Finalist

As the Founder and CEO of Rebelstork, Emily Hosie has a proven track record of driving transformative growth and success in the retail space. She began her career as the Women’s Trend Buyer at Holt Renfrew, and the Senior Buyer in Women’s Contemporary at Saks in New York City, later playing a prominent role in the growth of Saks Off Fifth across North America. Upon returning home to Canada, she joined TJX Companies Canada as VP of Merchandising. After becoming a mother, Emily identified a significant gap in the baby gear industry and recognized the need for innovation and transformation. 

Rebelstork is on a mission to make Parenting LighterTM, providing premium value for parents, while creating a more sustainable world for the next generation. Founded in 2020, Rebelstork is the largest returns re-commerce marketplace for baby gear in North America. As a female-founded and certified B-Corporation, Rebelstork empowers parents, brands, and retailers to safely and easily participate in the circular economy. Each item undergoes a quality check, and proprietary technology ensures that open-box and overstock baby gear is diverted from landfills to customers’ homes at a fraction of the retail price. Today, Rebelstork proudly partners with over 2,500 brands and diverts over 12 million pounds of gear out of landfills annually.

My drive to become an entrepreneur was fuelled by… my passion for the value channel retail industry. I made a list of the companies I wanted to work for and the leaders I wanted to learn from. There came a time when my perspective shifted from thinking that I was lucky to be working for a company and towards realizing that they were lucky to have me. It was then that I knew I was ready to make the leap and start my own business.

Entrepreneurship is made for me because… I like to move quickly. I am constantly envisioning ways for our company to evolve, expand and grow. With the talented team we have at Rebelstork, we are continuously working on something new, and are agile enough to make change quickly. 

The impact I hope to make through my work is… to effectively build the technology required to address the challenge of returns and overstocks, saving over 12 million pounds of waste from landfills annually. By giving each item a unique identifier and implementing a rigorous quality-check process dubbed the “Rebby Pinky Promise,” Rebelstork provides supply partners with a sustainable solution, addressing their challenges and concerns while creating a new revenue stream. This innovative approach ensures that only quality-approved returns are resold, diverting these products from landfills and promoting a circular economy. 

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned on my entrepreneurial journey is… when you are trying something new, be prepared for pushback and naysayers. Creating change is not easy — it’s crucial to stay strong in your beliefs and work to educate others. 

My proudest accomplishment is… our ability to raise capital. In 2023, companies founded solely by women garnered just 2 per cent of the total capital invested in VC-backed startups in the United States. I’m proud that Rebelstork is part of this 2 per cent, and the legacy challenges we are overcoming.

My biggest learning experience has been… that a new idea can make sense to you, but be viewed as a bad idea to others. The timing of when it is embraced by others is rarely the timing you expect. 

I overcame it by… having unwavering confidence in myself and my vision. You have to be your own cheerleader and root for your team.

The best advice I’ve received as an entrepreneur was… to be thankful for things that didn’t pan out, as they open new doors and opportunities.

I surprise people when I tell them… I was ambidextrous until late elementary when I chose to be left-handed.

If I had an extra hour in the day, I would use it to… sleep.

If you googled me, you still wouldn’t know… while living in New York, I also went to DJ school. 

The future excites me because… we are just getting started. Our team is dedicated to continue expanding our product offerings so that families can attain the most coveted baby gear brands at up to 50 per cent off regular retail prices.

Keep up with Rebelstork on LinkedIn and Instagram. Connect with Emily on LinkedIn.